A building at 1133 Melville Street contains one of the most secret venues of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The United States Department of State's operations centre is not listed in the lobby directory. Elevator access to the eighth floor is restricted to passholders. A real estate listing said 23,591 square feet will become available for lease July 1. The U.S. Consulate is a short walk away at 1075 West Pender St.
"No, there are neither media nor public tours of the Melville site," said U.S. Consulate public affairs officer Charles Smith.
A 1996 U.S. presidential policy stipulates the government's "first duty" is to protect Americans at home and abroad. Twenty U.S. government agencies spent $16 million at Torino 2006.
The U.S. is expected to send the largest contingent of athletes, media and sponsors to Vancouver 2010. President Barack Obama may be among the visitors.
